Obama motorcade route is readied as graduates rehearse

WORCESTER—The Police Department has released the motorcade route for President Barack Obama's visit to the city Wednesday. The city will have more than 250 officers on duty for the visit, at a cost of about $100,000.

Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said he hopes release of the motorcade route will prompt motorists to avoid the area, cutting down on traffic jams.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said this afternoon that Mr. Obama will leave Worcester via helicopter to attend a 7 p.m. event in Weston. The president will head back to Worcester Regional Airport and depart at 8:20 p.m. for his return to Washington, according to the White House. The White House previously disclosed that Mr. Obama would attend a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event in Greater Boston.

Air Force One is to land at Worcester Regional Airport at 3:20 p.m., according to the White House, and then the presidential motorcade will take Pleasant Street east to Newton Square. From there the president will take Highland Street into Lincoln Square.

The last portion of the route involves a quick trip on Major Taylor Boulevard until the motorcade reaches the DCU Center.

Mr. Obama will be the main speaker at Worcester Technical High School's graduation. The ceremony is slated to start at 4 p.m.

Chief Gemme said this morning the motorcade route will be shut to regular traffic at 2:30 p.m. and stay closed until sometime around 6 p.m.

The road closures will cause some fans attending four high school baseball and softball state tournament games (3, 4, 5 and 7 p.m.) at Worcester State University to take alternate routes. While Chandler Street will be open, it will be cut off from some parts of the city.

Cross traffic will be allowed once the president reaches the DCU Center. There are more than five major intersections on the route, including Park Avenue.

"We're just not going to allow people to travel the presidential motorcade route once the president arrives," Chief Gemme said. "Our objective is we want the public to know and people aware of the times the motorcade route is going to be closed. We are trying to minimize the inconvenience to the public and at the same time provide the security requested by the Secret Service."

More than 250 Worcester police officers will be involved in the security efforts.

Chief Gemme said a full complement of officers will be working to handle all types of calls throughout the city.

The cost for police resources involved in Mr. Obama's visit is about $100,000 – a cost that is being absorbed by the Police Department, according to the chief.

"The presidential visit puts the Worcester community in the national spotlight. We believe that the presidential visit is a positive for the city," Chief Gemme said. "It is certainly a strong recognition of the quality education taking place at the Worcester Technical High School."

This afternoon, seniors at Worcester Technical High School will be at the DCU Center for a graduation rehearsal.

Officials have distributed about 5,600 tickets for the event, which will be held in the main arena of the DCU Center.